Is Exercise More Beneficial for Women Than Men?

The Story We all know that men and women have a lot of differences. We have different ways of approaching sex and dating, style and grooming, and health and fitness. And we're continuing to find new ways that we divide. An NIH-supported observational study has found that even when women and men get the same amount of physical activity, the risk of premature death is lower for women. The Snapshot This new research has revealed that exercise could be more beneficial for women than men. The study of more than 400,000 adults ages 27-61 found that women were 24% less likely than those who do not exercise to experience death from any cause, while men were 15% less likely. Women also had a 36% reduced risk for a fatal heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event, while men had a 14% reduced risk. The Lesson “Exercise is extremely beneficial for women for several reasons. Women find their metabolism decreases as they age, so exercise is important for promoting circulation, lowering blood pressure, and maintaining a healthy weight," says Rowan Cooke, Sport and Exercise Science Specialist at Bulk.com. “Hormones also play a huge part in a woman's life, and many women may not know that exercise can help regulate their hormonal balance, including estrogen and progesterone levels. Being hormonally balanced can have a positive effect on menstrual health, fertility, and menopausal symptoms. Not only that, exercise helps to release dopamine, also known as our ‘feel good’ hormones. When dopamine is released, it reacts in areas of the brain to give you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. We also release endorphins when we exercise, which work nicely alongside dopamine, helping with pain control and mood stabilisation. The best way to increase dopamine levels is by exercising regularly with low-impact workouts,” says Cooke. You Might Also Dig: How to Build a Home GymBest Home Workout EquipmentBest Exercise Equipment Under $100